Ted Thompson and the Favre Situation

[Carolina_Packer]

I know this has probably been alluded to in other threads, but I wanted to start this discussion as a TT thread, and not just from Favre's perspective. I don't know what to believe about this situation. I hear talk about the Packers front office not wanting Brett to come back. I don't know what is true or not. You hear his Mom and people close to him saying that the Packers didn't seem to want him back. Is that why he retired in the first place?

I'm sure what a front office wants most are players that they know they can move forward with. This is all a tricky situation for a front office. A franchise/all-time player like Favre hems and haws about retirement for several years and the front office is bound to wonder when the future begins without that player. So, it might not be that the Packers "forced him out" or to retire, but they certainly wanted to know what the future of the most important position on the field was going to be. I don't think Favre would have said all the things about his level of desire at his presser back in March to cover up that the team didn't seem to want him anymore. Why would they think that way? The guy can still play at an advanced age for QB's. He's simply amazing. But, that being said, an organization needs to know about the long-term prospects, and short-term ones at that position to give themselves the best chance to succeed. What is any GM supposed to do given that situation?

TT is so close to the vest on all this stuff, we may never find out where he stands, but I suppose we'll know him by his actions what his true intentions are. We don't know how he really feels about Favre possibly coming back or how he will handle it if he does want to. How should it be handled and how will it be handled? Those are the things I want to know now.

I hope he comes back with the Pack. He's earned the right to change his mind, not by my sentimentality, but by his continued solid play. Your thoughts about what is happening in the front office with this situation?

[bobblehead]

Plain and simple when TT got here favre was being handled with kid gloves.....missing all OTA and minicamps and generally getting plenty of days off in TC as well. TT hired a tough minded MM to get BF back to the probowl player he was capable of. He wanted favre as his QB, but only a committed BF who put in the time necessary to win.

Favre was on board....begrudgingly for a couple years, but this season he simply decided he wasn't "loved" enough (read...given special treatment that would handicap the team). TT ain't gonna budge on that shit and I think both TT and MM were sick of forcing BF to do the right thing and nudged him in the retirement direction and when he said he was retiring they didn't leave much room for changing his mind and aren't gonna start now.

[gex]

BuBBLHEAD=HATER, Face it you don't like Favre, You have no sense of LOYALITY! What does a MAN who gave EVERTHING he had to give to a team, a city a state, have to prove anythng to a punk like you.

[bobblehead]

BuBBLHEAD=HATER, Face it you don't like Favre, You have no sense of LOYALITY! What does a MAN who gave EVERTHING he had to give to a team, a city a state, have to prove anythng to a punk like you.

This is a TT thread, I was posting from that position. I wanted favre back and have said so, but now that he has missed OTA's, Minicamps, and announced his retirement I want him to stay that way. I wanted a COMMITTED BF back, not a wishy washy show up on sundays guy.

I have a huge sense of loyalty...to the packers. And I agree BF has absolutely NOTHING to prove to me, why would you even make that comment??

As far as you bursting out this way and calling me a punk and showing that you are reacting from emotion instead of logic I shouldn't have bothered responding, but since this is our first interaction I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I think if you put down the redbull and just read my post from the point of view.....hey, what exactly happened in bobbleheads opinion.....you might not get so worked up.

[Carolina_Packer]

Yes. I'd like to see this thread stay directed at TT and what people see him doing, or having done as far as Favre is concerned. I have no answers, only questions about how Brett's situation has been handled, and how it will be handled, should he decide to come out of "retirement". I can't imagine the pressure this puts on a GM to give a franchise, HOF in waiting QB his full measure of dignity that he deserves for what he has done, yet, the GM wanting to know the direction the ship is heading long-term. It's can't be easy at all. I just hope it is all handled well, and that he does both what is right by Favre and for the Packers, which may be the predicament he ends up being in as this plays out further.

[Scott Campbell]

I'd like to know what about playing football for another 6 months could be so fucking hard to decide. Getting married - big decision. Getting divorced - big decision. Having children - big decision. Taking a loved one off life support - big decision. Playing football for 6 months - big whoop. This ain't exactly babies dying.

[Bretsky]

It's been my view that TT wants to move on...for sure after this year.....but maybe sooner. We saw signs....rumors of deadlines....Mark Murphy publicly saying he expects Favre's decision any day now when in reality he had no clue. I don't think Favre was ready for the call when he retired; my belief is he continuously encouraged to be sure he was 100%, but rushed. I think MM wanted Favre back. I don't think TT did.

I don't see TT bringing Favre back to Green Bay. For the most part he left the discussions to his coach when Favre retired and once Favre retired TT was happy and began his plan to move on. He drafted two two QB's......said the right things to the media.....encouraged that retirement of the jersey jersey to be right at the beginning of the season (just my belief).

I don't think TT does a thing with Favre's "itches". He hopes they go away and ignores them unless Favre calls to say he wants to come back for sure or sends the formal letter indicating this to Green Bay. And that could happen. I see the relationship between TT and Favre to be professional...but very cold.

At that point my gut tells me TT either trades Favre or released him. AROD is his boy.

[Tarlam!]

AROD is his boy.

I think this statement is bunk. You could argue Ryan Grant is his boy, too, but as we all know, Grant still doesn't have a contract signed. And the number of vets that he has re-signed also make your statement thin, B.

I don't think TT is an egomaniac. If A-Rod doesn't pan out, he's gone. But he'll get a fair shake. What more should we fans expect of our GM?

TT has never claimed any credit for turning the franchise around from a cap nightmare full of overpaid has-beens and wannabe's. He always, ALWAYS talks in the "we" form and he has readily, though respectfully admitted screw ups along the way. I say respectfully, cause if a player hasn't panned out, TT has NEVER had an ill word about the player.

The way I view TT might be naive, but I think he's trying to do his job. I think he treats everyone of the players with the same level of respect and doesn't have favourites. He doesn't pamper anyone. He wants players that will give their all on the practice field, locker room and on Sundays.

And, he's damned right to do so, IMHO. Why? It would be damned impossible for M3 to bench a "Brett Favre".

You all know I admire Favre's Seattle performance - brilliant.

But I would have loved to have seen a hungry A-Rod in the 4th quarter against the Giants when it was absolutely clear to anyone that Favre was looking tired and cold all game long.

TT is handling his job better than 31 other GMs IMHO.

[twoseven]

BuBBLHEAD=HATER, Face it you don't like Favre, You have no sense of LOYALITY! What does a MAN who gave EVERTHING he had to give to a team, a city a state, have to prove anythng to a punk like you.

Time to put down the kool-aid.

What other HOF caliber player has handled their final remaining offseason(s) like Favre? Is the answer zero? Favre has been pulling the mystery routine for close to five seasons now, constantly putting the question mark on his own back every spring by entertaining the R word. The team and upper management have given him more than enough consideration and respect during all of that time and all the time he needed to figure things out for himself. Wondering whether or not the leader of your team is going to keep playing is a fairly important thing to know when free agency and the draft are approaching, yet every friggin' year the organization handled itself with class and addressed these issues without asking Favre to have made a decision concerning his future. Now he finally cuts the cord and the team is forced to move forward, gearing the offense up for a new QB and spending not one, but two draft picks on QBs...only to have Brett feeling the itch after a whole three months of retirement. Now the organization should just fall to its knees to reverse its own work and welcome #4 back. Who's running the team, TT and MM or BF? All the other offseasons you could make the claim that Brett has earned the right..blah blah blah. THIS is different. It took Favre about three months after the NFCC game to decide he wanted out FOREVER after five years of thinking about it, the ENTIRE time he was begged to return..then it took him about the same time to decide he wanted back in. Ok, whatever you want Brett. He has been contemplating reitrement since about 2003, it's his own fucking problem that he finally retired after plenty of seasons to get ready for it, and now it's over..but not really.

If you want the GBP to be all about one man and what is best for him and him alone, go ahead and call all those supporting TT and the team haters. I started watching this team long before Brett and will do so long after he's gone, like many fans out there..how about you? TT has got a hell of a lot more to think about besides what is best for Brett as he tries to run the ENTIRE team and handle all of its players, and focuses on more than just 2008. What message is sent to the organization, all of its players, and its fans when the GM isn't in full control of his own team? Favre's itch has put TT and MM in a shitty situation, that is a reality, and there is no easy way out of it. TT is the asshole in someone's eyes no matter what comes of this situation, and you're giving Brett a pass.

[Packnut]

Giants

AROD is his boy.

I think this statement is bunk. You could argue Ryan Grant is his boy, too, but as we all know, Grant still doesn't have a contract signed. And the number of vets that he has re-signed also make your statement thin, B.

I don't think TT is an egomaniac. If A-Rod doesn't pan out, he's gone. But he'll get a fair shake. What more should we fans expect of our GM?

TT has never claimed any credit for turning the franchise around from a cap nightmare full of overpaid has-beens and wannabe's. He always, ALWAYS talks in the "we" form and he has readily, though respectfully admitted screw ups along the way. I say respectfully, cause if a player hasn't panned out, TT has NEVER had an ill word about the player.

The way I view TT might be naive, but I think he's trying to do his job. I think he treats everyone of the players with the same level of respect and doesn't have favourites. He doesn't pamper anyone. He wants players that will give their all on the practice field, locker room and on Sundays.

And, he's damned right to do so, IMHO. Why? It would be damned impossible for M3 to bench a "Brett Favre".

You all know I admire Favre's Seattle performance - brilliant.

But I would have loved to have seen a hungry A-Rod in the 4th quarter against the Giants when it was absolutely clear to anyone that Favre was looking tired and cold all game long.

TT is handling his job better than 31 other GMs IMHO.

I would have liked to see a better prepared team from MM in the Giants game.

I would have liked for our WR's to have gotten a sliver of separation against a less than stellar secondary.

I would have liked for our O-line to actually make a freakin run block.

I would have liked for our D to have played with some kind of EMOTION.

I would have liked for our defensive coordinator to adjust when he see's the same thing happen a BILLION freakin times.

I would have liked for Harris to keep his mouth shut while PB was schooling him.

I would have liked a stronger commitment to the run.


Why is it so hard for you to comprehend it's a TEAM game? It really is not that difficult a concept.

Blaming Favre for that loss is MORONIC and shows a complete lack of understanding for the game of pro football, yet you take your little cheap shots at him every chance you get.

EVERYONE from the coaches to the players SUCKED in that game! If blaming everyone is to complicated a task for you, then blame the main guy responsible- AL HARRIS.

Of course in your brain, may-be you firmly believe it was Favre providing coverage (or lack there of) on PB???????????????????

[Scott Campbell]

Re: Giants

Why is it so hard for you to comprehend it's a TEAM game? It really is not that difficult a concept.

Ok, but that statement cuts both ways Packnut. Then Ted shouldn't be expected to grovel to get Brett to come back anymore than he'd be expected to grovel to get Jarret Bush to come back. If everyone on the team were expected to make equal contributions, then why wasn't everyone on the roster making $12M/year.

And you're right - Al Harris did play like crap. I'm worried about him.

[The Shadow]

Are we forgetting Thompson was named Executive of the Year?

[Bretsky]

Are we forgetting Thompson was named Executive of the Year?

Sure, let's give him a pass on it all then

[Scott Campbell]

Are we forgetting Thompson was named Executive of the Year?

Sure, let's give him a pass on it all then

Give him a pass on what?

[texaspackerbacker]

This thread, too, is leaping without evidence to the assumption that Favre indeed IS "hemming and hawing" again.

Thompson is handling this exactly right--being unavailable for comment/out of town/on vacation. You don't wave at shadows; You don't comment on unsubstantiated RUMORS, particularly if the subject of the rumors denies that there is anything to them.

Hell, in a perfect world, athletes and executives would stonewall the God damned media assholes just on general principles.